1995 Ford Taurus Electrical Problems

ARRIVING HOME, I PARKED THE CAR IN OUR ATTACHED GARAGE. I WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SOMETHING HOT OR SHORTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE NEXT DAY, I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND NO LONGER NOTICED THE SMELL. I DROVE IT AND THERE WAS NO MORE ODOR. THE SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE, AND THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE 3 AMP FUSE IN THE WIRNG HARNESS WAS BLOWN, BUT ONLY AFTER COMING CLOSE TO STARTING A FIRE. FORD HAS A HISTORY OF SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSING FIRES. THIS CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2007 TO INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WITH A 3 AMP FUSE BETWEEN THE SWITCH AND THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO WHERE IT OFFERED NO PROTECTION. THE CAR WAS RECALLED AGAIN IN 2008 TO REPLACE THE FIRST WIRING HARNESS WITH ONE HAVING THE FUSE AHEAD OF THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE 3 AMP FUSE IN SERIES WITH THE 15 AMP FUSE IS FAR LESS LIKELY TO CAUSE A FIRE THAN HAVING ONLY THE 15 AMP FUSE. NEVERTHELESS, I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING A MAJOR FIRE IN OUR HOME WHILE WE WERE INSIDE HAD I NOT NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE 3 AMP FUSE DID ITS JOB, BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH BRAKE FLUID AND HEAT TO POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LEAKING SWITCH AND THE FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THEY CHARGED ME $177.03 FOR THE REPAIR. FORD HAS RECALLED ABOUT 10 MILLION VEHICLES TO ADD THE FUSE, BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT THE DESIGN IS STILL UNSAFE BECAUSE 3 AMPS COULD STILL IGNITE BRAKE FLUID, I HOPE THIS NOTE MAY SAVE OTHERS FROM SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AS MORE OF THESE PRESSURE SWITCHES WILL FAIL WITH AGE AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ON THE CONTINUOUSLY ENERGIZED WIRING HARNESS. THE 3 AMP FUSES MAY NOT ALWAYS BLOW SOON ENOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512215

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

123,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE HOOD, COVERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED HAT THE RADIATOR AND ELECTRONIC WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 19,000.

NHTSA ID

10475606

Incident

Aug 6, 2010

Mileage

19,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY OVER 45 MPH, WHICH MAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORK AT ALL. NEEDLE JUMPS AROUND WILDLY AND IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219755

Incident

Feb 29, 2008

Mileage

46,700 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. A FIRE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE WHETHER THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL OR FUEL IGNITED, NOR WHAT COMPONENT WAS INVOLVED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10164707

Incident

Aug 2, 2006

Mileage

127,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1995 FORD TAURUS WITH AROUND 64000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE DATE OF 11/27/05 WHEN BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, I WAS ONE LIGHT FROM THE WESTBROOK FIRE DEPARTMENT SO MANAGED TO GET TO THE FIREHOUSE AND OFF THE ROAD TO PREVENT ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO OTHERS AROUND ME. I ENDED UP LOSING MY BRAKES FROM THE FIRE AND EVERY WIRE AND ANYTHING PLASTIC UNDER THE HOOD HAD BEEN DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSE. IT SEEMS THE FIRE HAD BEEN CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND STARTED TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING FAN CAUSING AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE. I CONTACTED FORD ON 11/28/05 TO VERIFY IF MY VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND WAS TOLD YES, BUT I HAD NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. AFTER THIS I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED IN SEVERAL WORKING DAYS WITH FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS CONTACTED BY FORD ON 12/13/05 AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL A FORD DEALER CHECKED THE CAR TO SEE IF THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLING FAN. ON THE DATE OF 12/14/05 I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HAMMONASSET FORD LINCOLN IN MADISON CT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SAID THERE WAS SO MUCH DAMAGE UNDER THE HOOD, THAT EVERY WIRE HAD MELTED THEY COULD NOT TELL EXACTLY WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK HOME AND ON 12/20/05 I WAS CONTACTED BY FORD VIA U.S. MAIL AND WAS TOLD DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY A MANUFACTURER''S DEFECT THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AT THIS TIME. EVERY WIRE UNDER THE HOOD IS STRIPPED OF ITS PLASTIC COATING. AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD IS BURNED OFF RIGHT OVER THE FAN. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED TO A CAR WITH ONLY 64000 MILES . *JB

NHTSA ID

10153997

Incident

Nov 27, 2005

Mileage

64,000 mi

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' FORD TAURUS 1995 RECALLED THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLING CIRCUIT BREAKER. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR AND FAN, BUT NEVER INSTALLED THE BREAKER. THE DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER SHOP. AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON JUNE 11. 2002 THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON JUNE 28, 2002. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC WHO PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK, STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLY A CRACKED HEAD FROM OVERHEATING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FAN MOTOR DID NOT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE LEARNED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE HEAD GASKET WHICH THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP DENIED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY FOUND THE FAN MOTOR AND CIRCUIT BREAKER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN, AND THE MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10113433

Incident

Jun 28, 2002

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAD THE COMPUTER/ COIL, AND DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099564

Incident

Sep 7, 2004

Mileage

96,000 mi

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR MOTOR, FAN AND FUSE ASSEMBLY PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *PH *LA

NHTSA ID

10066606

95 FORD TAURUS SE SOLD TO ME BY A MAJOR SATURN DEALER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001 STICKER PRICE AROUND 6,000 BEFORE TAXES ETC. TRADED IN MY PAID FOR BUICK IN GOOD CONDITION BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING THAT COULD NOT BE FIXED WITH VEHICLE HISTORY SO EASY TO ACCESS THESE DAYS, HOW COULD THIS BE OVER LOOKED BY A MAJOR CAR DEALER, SELLING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON NOTICE FOR RECALL FOR 8YRS.! I JUST BECAME AWARE OF THIS WARRANTY RECALL A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THIS RECALL NOTICE. I ACCIDENTLY RAN ACROSS THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY CARD TRANSFERRED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, CALLED THEM AND WAS GIVEN INFO THAT ANSWERED A LOT OF QUESTIONS: LAST YEAR, I SPENT EVERY DIME I COULD MAKE, BORROW, AND BEG TO KEEP THAT CAR FORM BLOWING UP, AND RUNNING SO THAT I COULD KEEP A ROOF ME AND MY CHILDREN?S HEAD , (SINGLE MOTHER WITH 2 CHILDREN IN LAS VEGAS IS SCARY ENOUGH BUT WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION I CAN?T EVEN IMAGINE. CAR STARTED OVERHEATING AT ODD TIMES AND WAY BEFORE ANY (NORMAL HEAT READING), SPEWING COOLANT AND SO FORTH ALL OVER HOSES AND CABLES AND RADIATOR CAUSING EVENTUAL EROSION OF ALL THESE HOSES ETC. SOME HOSES CAN COST UP TO $60 A PIECE! THIS OVERHEATING CONTINUED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS BUILD UP OF FLUIDS(COOLANT MIXTURE)IN RADIATOR AT TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 117 DEGREES CAUSING EROSION OF THE SAME NATURE WITHIN THE RADIATOR, HEAD GASKET CRACKED AND REPAIRED AT THE TUNE OF $1600. STILL THE ELECTRICAL WAS OVER LOOKED BY THE SAME MECHANICS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. NEGLECT IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM IN THIS FIELD AND WOMEN ARE THE VICTIMS HERE ONCE AGAIN, HELPLESS!

NHTSA ID

10069718

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10022742

Incident

Dec 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE DASH BOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015680

Incident

Apr 11, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10014789

Incident

Mar 31, 2003

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND SUDDENLY WITH OUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SIMPLY QUIT AS IT HAS DONE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE PAST. ALSO DURING THIS INCIDENT, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2002, THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE ARTICLE STATED; CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION DEVICE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE HE IS BEING STONEWALLED AND IS REQUESTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE MONEY SPENT AND REMEDIAL SERVICE ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AT FORDS EXPENSE. *SCC

NHTSA ID

568051

Incident

Sep 30, 2002

WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR IT MAKES A BAD POWER STERRING SOUND MY FLUID IS NOT LOW. MR

NHTSA ID

768358

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING FROM THE DAY IT WAS DELIVERED. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH FLAKING PAINT, MISALIGNED HOOD, DOOR AND BUMPER DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL. THESE PROBLEMS WERE FIXED BY DEALER W/O CHARGE, AS WAS THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. REPAIRS FOR MUFFLER FAILURE, SWAY BAR LINKAGE FAILURE, AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE AND STARTER MOTOR FAILURE WERE NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER ANY SORT OF RECALL. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND STARTER MOTOR COST OVER $1200 TO FIX. THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT. SOME TIMES THE CAR WOULD START AND OTHER TIMES THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. ONE TIME THE ENGINE SIMPLY DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. STARTER MOTOR WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL ENGINE COOLED DOWN AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR AN HOUR OR TWO. THEN STARTER MOTOR WOULD WORK. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP SAID THE STARTER MOTOR PROBABLY HAD "DEAD" AREAS IN STARTER MOTOR THAT MAY BE CAUSING INTERMITTENT FAILURE. AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE ATTRIBUTED TO FAILURE OF "MOTOR MOUNTS" THAT CAUSED RUPTURE OF MULTIPLE HOSES IN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. I'VE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY EQUIPMENT FAILURES WITH THIS TYPE OF MILEAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

766712

Incident

Jan 3, 2000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CONSUMER THEN RETURNED AND PLACED KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION SWITCH FELL OFF STEERING COLUMN INTO DRIVER'S HAND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPAIRED. NO REASON GIVEN AS TO WHY IGNITION SWITCH FELL OFF.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

8016546

WHEN CONSUMER PLACES KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION .VEHICLE WILL START INTERMITTENTLY, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014465

Incident

Jul 22, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN DRIVING. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. CONTACTED DEALER. ELECTRIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011655

Incident

Jun 5, 2002

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER AND REPLACED EEC WIRES, AND PCM RELAY MODULE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010539

Incident

May 14, 2002

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE AND MOVED INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007701

Incident

Dec 19, 2000

AFTER TURING VEHICLE OFF HEARD A BOM NOISE IN MOTOR, AND ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007419

Incident

Mar 15, 2002

IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004053

Incident

Feb 13, 2002

CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MILES AND STOPPED, VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003679

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOSE POWER. DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, RAISED HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT WIRES IN HARNESS BEHIND ENGINE WERE ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003418

Incident

Jan 31, 2002

I AM APPAULED AT THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD TAURUS THAT I PURCHASED. I AM CURRENTLY WITHOUT A CAR WHILE I WAIT FOR THE FUSE IN THE RADIATOR TO BE REPLACED ( WHICH LEAD TO THE FAN MOTOR IN THE RADIATOR AND THE RADIATOR ITSELF TO BE REPLACED AS WELL). THE FIRST RECALL, WHICH WAS THE HEAD GASKET, TOOK A TOTAL OF THREE MONTHES TO BE REPAIRED, THREE MONTHES I SPENT HITCHING RIDES. IN THE LETTER, EACH TIME THEY HAVE PROMISED ME A RENTAL CAR, AND EACH TIME, NO CARS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE, AND IF CARS ARE AVAILABLE, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RENT ONE TO ME BECAUSE I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS NOT TWENTY ONE. I AM DEEPLY OFFENDED AT THE FACT THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH MAKING ME PAY TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND I AM STILL LEFT WALKING ON THE SIDE OF I-75 ON THE COLDEST SAY OF THE YEAR (HEAD GASKET INCIDENT). IN SUMMARY, IF A GROCERY STORE SELLS YOU BAD BANANAS, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR MONEY BACK. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMMENTS, AND I HOPE OTHERS FEEL THE SAME WAY. P.S. ALL OF THE ABOVE IS FACTUAL AND A JOKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

757149

Incident

Jan 11, 2002